Events and News

McCloud HoneyBee Fest

Our inaugural HoneyBee Fest was a huge success! Over 400 visitors celebrated the honeybee with honey tasting and judging, a live hive, games, vendors, presentations, crafts and ice cream topped with honey! We can’t wait for next year!

Support Establishment of a HoneyBee Observation Hive at McCloud

Each year, McCloud Nature Park is visited by over 30,000 people. Our Nature Center welcomes many of those visitors, including school groups, scouts and families eager to learn and experience nature in all its wonder. We are excited to announce a new source of environment education and inspiration – an observation honeybee hive!

The observation honeybee hive will be located in the McCloud Nature Center, easily accessible to all visitors. The hive will be a window into the fascinating world of the honeybee and an amazing teaching tool for our naturalists.

The Parks Foundation of Hendricks County is proud to partner with our Hendricks County Parks in creating a home in our parks for this indispensable pollinator. We are working hard to raise the funds needed to establish the observation hive and other hives throughout McCloud Nature Park. We would be so grateful for your donation!

Expert Presentation, Demonstration and Assistance

Spend the day at Sodalis Nature Park planning your spring garden with assistance of native experts. Our naturalist and master gardeners will help you choose the plants that are right for your home. Plants will be categorized by Woods Edge (Part-Sun), Woodland (shade), Prairie (sun), Water’s Edge, Rain Garden, and Butterfly Food. Plant descriptions will be provided for you to take home.

Expansion Updates – Sodalis Nature Park

Progress is being made to expand Sodalis Nature Park by nearly 2,000 acres! This is a huge collaborative effort by the Indianapolis Airport Authority and the Hendricks County Park Board to give protected land back to our community! Watch for exciting developments in the coming months!

Update: The MOU has been extended to work toward the full expansion of Sodalis in 2017!

October 16, 2016

MOU signed by the Hendricks County Park Board and the Indianapolis Airport Authority to work toward the transfer of nearly 2,000 acres of conservation land to our Hendricks County Parks! The land includes protected wetland areas that provide critical habitat for the endangered Indiana bat plus many other species of animal and plant life. IAA and Hendricks County Park Board will meet regularly to collaborate and develop a plan for maintenance and the future use of the land.

From William Roche, superintendent for the Hendricks County Parks: “This is an amazing opportunity with the potential to create a public park unlike any in the nation, on land already set aside for the protection of an endangered species. If realized, this future park will serve as an outstanding resource for our community. And, the willingness of the IAA to work with the Park Board, county elected officials, and other partners to help create a community asset on this land really speaks to the caliber of their organization. They have been wonderful partners.”

SAVING THE CREEK BANK

If you have been enjoying our beautiful spring weather at McCloud Nature Park, you might have noticed a large area on the banks of the Big Walnut cleared of brush and trees. In an effort to save the creek bank from erosion and flooding, a wetlands is being developed in this floodplain.

Design – Once the landscape has been recontoured, two small ponds will appear along with new native plants and trees. The wetlands will be surrounded by a 1/4 mile boardwalk with interpretive signage. The 2,000+ students who visit McCloud each year on field trips will have a new source of environmental education!

Timeline – The land is close to being cleared and the recontouring will begin this spring. Plantings will begin in July and August, with trees to planted in October along with boardwalk construction. The wetlands should be completed this in the spring of 2017!

We will keep you updated on the progress with pictures and posts on our website and facebook.

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